Small Town News

Health cares moral ambiguity

---

What's a fiscally conservative state to do?

Judging from the voting record, a majority of North Dakotans pride themselves as being cautious about change and generally having a low-risk attitude toward financial matters:

At least the state-wide voting record will hold that statement to be true.

Nationally, however, we seem to want every drop of financial aid we can get and. in some cases, it's needed to continue the privilege of living where we do.

Now comes health care. Cities like Bottineau, Rolla and Cando have hospitals and need them not only to keep the surrounding populations healthy, but also as employers.

It's apparent something has to change in the health care field for our small towns just to maintain medical facilities. Fortunately, the current health care bill has extra money for hospitals and doctors in North Dakota, as well as the country's other rural states such as South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.

Lately, however, in the push to get any kind of health care bill passed, those funds are under attack from both sides of the aisle.

President Barack Obama says he wants projects helping specific states yanked from the health care bill Congress is writing. Republicans and special interest groups are attacking such measures as "prizes," coining them with clever terms like the "Cornhusker kickback" and the "Louisiana Purchase."

Obama's proposal to eliminate state-specific items comes with polls finding heightened public opposition to backroom political deals. Republicans have been happy to fan that discontent. Many Democrats, particularly House moderates facing tight re-election battles this fall. are eager to dissociate themselves from such spending.

This may be one of the several reasons that so many Democratic incumbents have decided to step away from re-election plans.

Right now, a fickle electorate is watching the factory that is Congress. It's all unfolding before our eyes and, like watching sausage being made, it's not a savory sight for many.

Opposition against any kind of health care bill is at once gaining steam and a ridiculous proposition. Starting over now would certainly be a defeat for the White House but it would also be a defeat for the Republicans.

The GOP has more than 100 amendments in the current bill that many are demonizing for purposes of re-election or to get bigger bucks from special interests.

Researchers of the current health care proposal have found an interesting fact about the the bill. It more closely resembles a plan put forth by former President Richard Nixon than it does the failed effort by former President Bill Clinton.

That's mind boggling.

The deal-making will continue until the bill gets voted upon or dies an ugly death.

As North Dakotans, we have to decide whether or not to fight for something that many may find goes against their political and, possibly ethical, instincts. Backing a deal that was essentially "bought" with more juicy plums for our state, or fighting against it, which could cause the demise of rural health care as we know it and the loss of many jobs in our smaller communities.

This is the moral ambiguity that is our government.



Copyright 2010 The Lake Metigoshe Mirror, Bottineau, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 The Lake Metigoshe Mirror Bottineau, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from The Lake Metigoshe Mirror